Roxham Road has been used as an unofficial crossing point between New York and Quebec. Canada plans to spend $1.3-billion over six years on enhancing its borders, following threats from president-elect Donald Trump that he will impose tariffs if Canada doesn't do more to prevent drug smuggling and illegal migration.Carlos Osorio/Reuters
Ottawa plans to inject $1.3-billion over six years into enhancing Canada’s borders, after president-elect Donald Trump insisted the government do more to prevent illegal migration and fentanyl smuggling, or face the imposition of large tariffs on Canadian goods.
In the fall economic statement released Monday, the funds were earmarked to support the work of the RCMP, the Canada Border Services Agency, Canada’s cyberspies and the federal Public Safety department.
Mr. Trump has threatened to impose 25-per-cent tariffs on all imports from Canada and Mexico unless the two countries do more to secure their borders.
Ottawa intends to brief Mr. Trump on its plan to reinforce the border, which includes a huge cash injection to pay for more helicopters, drones and other technology as well as boots on the ground.
This fiscal year, an extra $81-million will go into border security, followed by $144-million in 2025-2026; $278-million in 2026-2027; $275-million in 2027-2028; $282-million in 2028-2029; and $241-million in 2029-2030.
On Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford chaired a meeting in Toronto of provincial and territorial leaders to discuss border security and the prospect of U.S. tariffs. Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Ford said the premiers agreed there is “no greater risk” to the economy than Mr. Trump’s tariff threats.
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Mr. Ford said the premiers agreed that Canada needs to accelerate reaching the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s military spending target of 2 per cent of GDP – another demand by president-elect Trump –as well as more proactive measures to secure the border.
“Premiers have been briefed on the federal government’s plan, but we need more details about how and when it will be implemented. It’s critical that the federal government’s border plan demonstrates strong and visible action that shows Canada is serious,” he said.
Mr. Ford said the Canada Border Services Agency needs 2,000 more people on the ground.
Quebec Premier François Legault, who met Mr. Trump recently in Paris, said the incoming president was very clear about the need for more border security.
“He said, ‘If you don’t solve your problem with the border on January the 21, I will put 25-per-cent tariffs on all exportation from Canada to U.S. So, I think that our priority must be to settle the problem on the border,” Mr. Legault said. “At least in Quebec, we still have some people coming at the airport and then moving illegally to United States. So, I think that our priority until January the 21 must be to make sure we settle this problem.”
Some migrants who want to cross illegally into the U.S. fly into major airports including Montréal Trudeau International Airport and Toronto Pearson on legitimate visas and afterwards head to the border, where they slip across, according to the Canada Border Services Agency.
Measures set out in the fall economic statement will give the federal government more power to suspend visas, or change the terms of immigration documents such as work permits, visitors’ visas and study permits “for reasons deemed in the public interest.” The changes will be made through updates to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The extra $1.3-billion to boost border security was accompanied by a suite of measures in the fall economic statement to combat the illegal drug trade and bolster Canada’s immigration system.
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The incoming administration has signalled it will want action from Canada not only to stop fentanyl but to prevent people with alleged ties to terrorism crossing into the U.S. Monday’s economic statement said the government plans to launch a new task force where law enforcement and the financial sector can exchange and analyze information about money laundering, including that related to fentanyl trafficking.
It also said the government aims to amend the Proceeds of Crime and Terrorist Financing Act to toughen up measures to combat terrorist financing and money laundering.
U.S. Homeland Security has raised concerns in the past with Canada about sex offenders crossing the border. Both Canada and the U.S. have agreed on joint forums discussing border issues to alert one another if a known sex offender is crossing into either country. A bill implementing the fall economic statement will include a proposal to amend the Sex Offender Information Registration Act to enhance the ability of the RCMP to share information with other countries, as well as with domestic partners.
Mr. Trump has threatened to deport, with the help of the military, 11 million migrants living illegally in the U.S.
The premiers and Bloc Québécois MPs, as well as immigration experts, have raised fears about an influx of migrants crossing the border and claiming asylum in Canada after Mr. Trump returns to the White House next month.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller has signalled that he wants to stop people gaming the asylum system with false claims. The bill implementing the fall economic statement will include measures to streamline the processing and adjudication of asylum claims. The Immigration and Refugee Board, which hears asylum claims, currently has a backlog of 260,000 cases.
The federal government is also earmarking an extra $584-million in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, on top of $233-million this fiscal year, to pay for interim health care for the increasing number of people who have made asylum claims. The money will pay for health care until they become eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance.